Jamaica Bets on Rezoning for a Delayed Boost

Median Home Prices Are Lowest in Queens, Drawing First-Time Buyers

By

Gabby Warshawer

June 13, 2014 8:47 p.m. ET

After decades marked by blight and lackluster economic growth, Jamaica, the large, south-central Queens neighborhood, was poised to benefit from new zoning rules in 2007, but then the bottom fell out of the real-estate market.

Community leaders say development is only now beginning to move forward with new construction. Examples of new work set to begin include an apartment building with 500 units as well as retail space, and a...